Re: CULT: best health G/B/K?

Linda -- There's a brief lull in Ernesto's thrashing about outside --
which is ending the year's second month-long drought -- so I did a quick
check of the garden. Comparisons are a bit tough. I generally have good
luck with Barry Blyth's things. Among his fairly recent ones that I have,
good performers are SOPHIA, COFFEE WHISPERS, WEARING RUBIES, ANTIQUITY AND
GRACIOUS CURVES. IN A KISS lags behind the others in growth. All of the
just mentioned are going into their 3d year in the garden. SOPHIA was the
outstanding bloomer. IN THE STARS, planted at the same time and in the same
plot, died in its first year without blooming. COFFEE WHISPERS didn't
bloom the first year, but is the best increaser of the lot, and its bloom
was worth waiting for. YES, in its 2d year here, is a "no" for me. Little
increase, and the plant itself not impressive. AURA LIGHT is a better
yellow amoena, at least in my garden, and I like the seedlings I get from
it. I have seedlings from WEARING RUBIES which I hope to see bloom next
spring. The crosses are with some of my own reds. WHO'S YOUR DADDY, now
going into its second year here, either didn't bloom or wasn't remarkable.

ROMANTIC MOOD is by far and away the best of Joe Ghio's performers here,
although it was introduced almost 20 years ago. Maybe not "although"? I'm
having much better luck with ROMANTIC EVENING'S seedlings than with RE
itself.

I have SEA POWER, SHARPSHOOTER, SECRET SERVICE, and FIERY TEMPER , of
Keith's more recent introductions. None bloomed here the first year.
SOCIAL GRACES died. FIERY TEMPER bloomed this year. It's too early to
judge between them. -- Griff

Joe, Barry, Keith - just cover your eyes <g>
Any of you growing any new/recent Ghio/Blyth/Keppel introductions that
have impressed you this year with their health - compared to other
introductions from these three?
Now that I know that I can grow some (most?) of these in dirty perlite
in pots <and> get good pollen from some (most?) by bringing them indoors
once they start blooming AND now that I've seen that at least some (if
only I could figure out ahead of time <which> ones!) will produce
seedlings from my superhealthies that are reasonably healthy in my
growing conditions, I'd like to try a few more in pots as potential
parents. Some of these crosses have been more than "reasonably" healthy
- they are "disgustingly easy" growers <g> - some of the Zurbrigg X
ROMANTIC EVENING, TREASURED, ABOUT TOWN seedlings are especially strong,
as are some Schreiner X Blyth babies.
ROMANTIC EVENING nearly died in the ground here, but is reviving in
dirty perlite. I think I lost ABOUT TOWN, & haven't tried to grow
TREASURED (borrowed pollen elsewhere).
Finally managed to get some pollen from FOGBOUND onto something, & am
really eager to see how strong those seedlings are.
Appreciate any input.
--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.korrnet.org/etis>
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